Reinforcing and locking means for car-doors.



No. 747,664. PA'I'ENTED DEC. 22, 1903.

I W. W. TOBEY.

REINFORGING AND LOCKING MEANS FOR GAR DOORS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 18. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

Patented December 22, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM TOBEY, OF IOLA, KANSAS.

RElNFO RClNG AND LOCKING MEANS CAR-DOORS.

SPEGIFIGATION'forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 747,664, dated December 22, 1903.

Application filed I'ehruary 18, 1903. Serial No. 143.994. (No model.)

. in the county of Allen and State of Kansas,

have invented new and useful Improvements in Reinforcing and Looking Means for Car- Dors,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to'a corner reinforcing and locking means for a car-door which cooperates with the lower rear corner and is interposed between the car-door and the adjacent portion of the frame of the car side or door-frame surrounding the opening close to the lower rear corner of the door-opening to cause the doorto tightly close and fit snugly against the car side.

Frequently car-doors become warped and misshapen and do not lit closely against the side of the car adjacent to the door-opening, and the closure of the car is thus. rendered ineffective. Furthermore, it frequently happens that unauthorized persons attempt to effect an entrance into a car after the door has been closed by prying the rear lower cornor of the door outwardly far. enough to enable them to have access to the contents of the car.

A further important feature in the present improved construction is that the parts of the reinforcing or locking means are interposed between the door and the car side and are therefore exteriorly inaccessible, and breakage thereof by persons having nefarious intent will be prevented.

A further advantage of the improvement is that it does not interfere with the operation of the door in the opening and closing movements of the latter, and byjalways re-' storing the door to normal shape the hanger devices will'be retained in practical working pended by hangers 3, as in ordinary car-door constructions. This door will "also be equipped with any preferred seal -locking means and other accessories usually found in this class of devices.

As before indicated, the improved reinforcing and locking means cooperates with the lower rear corner of the door and comprise a verticallydisposed receptive member 4, consisting of a bar or elongated plate 5, preferably countersunk inthe side of the car adjacentto the lower rear corner of the dooropening and having upper and lower hook elements 6 directed toward each other to form a receptive seat for a locking slide member 7, secured to the inner portion of the door 2 at the lower rear corner of the latter. This locking slide member 7 comprises a hollow body-rib 8 and a surrounding flange 9, with an inner smooth face 10. The flange 9and body 8 are of approximately wedge -shaped form, the maximum width of thesaid parts when the member 7 is applied to the door being located adjacent to the rear edge of the latter. Formed in the member 7 to aline with the ends ofthe body-rib 8 within the confines of the latter are openings 11, having countersunk recesses 12 in the face portion of the member, as shown by Fig. 5. The member 7 is secured to the inner side-of the lower rear corner of the door, and in arranging'the same for application the body-rib 8 is-placed against the door and headed bolts 13 passed through the latter and the openings 11, the screw-threaded portions of the shanks of the bolts being interiorly located and se-.

curing-nuts 14 turned thereover into the countersunk recesses 12, which are located adjacent to the car side when the member 7 is applied in operative position. By countersinking the nuts 14 the inner face of the member 7 is maintained in smooth condition or without projections, and it will be understood that when the said member 7 is applied to the door it will be so disposed as to register with the hook elements 6 of the receptive member 4, secured to the car side. As shown by the detail section in Fig. 6, the face of the member 7 has a slight inward swell or convexity regularly from the upper to the lower edge of the same with the maximum projection thereof following the longitudinal center of the member. Furthermore, the inner face of the member is longitudinally inclined from the rear enlarged extremity thereof toward the front reduced extremity, as clearly indicated by Fig. 2. The purpose of this special construction is to cause the flange 9, surrounding the body-rib 8, to be tightly drawn into the receptive member 4 between the hook elements 6. In other Words, when the door is closed the forward reduced extremity of the flange 9 of the member 7 first enters the space between the hook elements 6 of the member 4:, and as the door is pushed shut the rear lower corner thereof is gradually drawn inwardly in close relation to the car side to reinforce the door structure and draw it into normal position when closed, irrespective of warpage or misshapen condition thereof. A secure locking means is also provided by the engagement of the members explained of such durable and strong nature as to resist attempts to pry open the lower rear corner portion of the door, and access to the interior of the car by the use of a prying implement by unauthorized persons will be prevented and resisted at the portion of the door controlled by the improved reinforcing and locking means.

The improved device is simple in its construction and arrangement and can be readily applied at a minimum cost, and while the same has been described in connection with a car-door it will also be useful on other doors, particularly of that class which are suspended and liable to become warped or misshapen.

Changes in the proportions and dimensions may also be resorted to to accommodate various applications Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is-- 1. In a device of the class set forth,the combination with a car-door and car having a door-opening therein,of a vertically-disposed receptive member secured to the car side adjacent to the lower rear corner portion of the door-opening, and having a seat, and a locking slide member secured to the inner side of the lower rear corner portion of the door and having an approximately wedge-shaped flange partially movable through and adapted to bind in the seat of the said receptive member.

2. Ina device of the class set forth,the combination with a car-door and car having a door-opening therein, of a vertically-disposed receptive member secured to the car side adjacent to the lower rear corner portion of the dooropening and having outer elements forming an open seat, and a locking slide member applied and secured to the inner side of the lower rear corner portion of the door and of approximately wedge shape, the said slide member being partially movable through the seat and having its inner face inclined outwardly from its rear to its front extremity.

3. In a device of the class set forth,the combination with a car-door and car having a door-opening therein, of a vertically-disposed receptive member secured to the side of the car adjacent to the lower rear corner portion of the door-opening, and having outer elements forming an open seat, and a locking slide member applied and secured to the inner side of the lower rear corner portion of the door and of approximately wedge shape, the said securing member comprising a hollow body-rib which is disposed against the door and a surrounding flange to engage the said elements of the receptive member, the portion of the locking slide member having a maximum vertical extent being disposed adjacent to the rear edge of the car-door.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM XV. TOBEY.

W'itnesses:

L. O. BEATTY, A. M. EWING. 

